The Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards conferred the Special Honour on Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, Chairman of the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria, at the 7th edition of the awards held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. This honour recognises Ramalan’s contribution to the development and advancement of broadcasting in Nigeria. His leadership within the industry and commitment to the growth of independent broadcasting have earned him this award.
Ramalan's strong voice has shaped important industry conversations on the interests of Nigerian broadcasters, the protection of Nigerian information sovereignty, and the sustainability and future of the sector. As IBAN Chairman, he has played a significant role in promoting indigenous broadcasting in the country. Viewers voted for Ramalan and Liberty TV as the ‘Best Indigenous TV Channel in Nigeria’ in the Viewers’ Choice category at the 2026 awards.
The NBMA noted that the strength of Nigerian broadcasting has been built not only by those behind the microphone and camera but also by visionary media owners, industry leaders, and stakeholders who have created platforms for Nigerian stories, ideas, and talents. Ramalan's journey is an important part of that story. The NBMA considered it both appropriate and significant to publicly acknowledge his service to the industry and wider Nigerian society.
In his goodwill message at the ceremony, Ramalan challenged broadcasters to protect professional competence and editorial integrity as Artificial Intelligence increasingly transforms journalism, television production, and broadcast engineering. He proposed the '80/20 Principle of Professional Competence', under which at least 80 percent of professional effort should remain grounded in human knowledge, creativity, competence, and judgement.
Ramalan argued that AI should serve as an aid to human expertise rather than a substitute for professional knowledge, judgement, and accountability. He called for continuous professional training, transparent AI-use policies, effective verification procedures, and firm human oversight across the industry. Media organisations and journalism schools should strengthen foundational skills and invest in professional competence before automation.
According to Ramalan, the future of Nigerian broadcasting will depend not merely on access to advanced technology but on the ability to combine innovation with professional excellence. He emphasised that professionals should provide the competence, judgement, and integrity that give their work meaning. Ramalan congratulated the nominees and award recipients, stressing that professional excellence remained essential to ensuring that audiences could trust what they broadcast.
The recognition reaffirmed Ramalan and Liberty TV's standing among audiences and their contribution to indigenous broadcasting in the country. The NBMA exists to celebrate excellence, honour impact, and inspire the future of broadcasting. The awards body noted that it was significant to acknowledge Ramalan's service to the industry and wider Nigerian society.
Key points
- Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan received the NBMA Special Honour for Broadcasting Leadership and Industry Development.
- Ramalan proposed the '80/20 Principle of Professional Competence' to guide the use of Artificial Intelligence in broadcasting.
- The NBMA recognised Ramalan's contribution to the development and advancement of broadcasting in Nigeria.
